Toothbrush



Sept 5, 1932. i M MGNALLY 1,875,475

TOOTHBRUSH.

Filed Feb. 10, 1931 I n v erfiofr- P U fiaxneys.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED] STATES. PATENT- OFFICE I EDWIN iVLMcNALLY, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE TEFRAY conjor.

- INDIANAIOLIS INDIANL A CORPORATIONOF DELAWARE 'roornnnusrr Application filed February 10, 1931. seri aino. 514,802.

My invention relates to toothbrushes and it has forits object the provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts comprising a brush head and handle means,

inwhich said brush head may 'be removably mounted so as to'enable the substitution-of a new head at any time in the handle when the head in use becomesworn or a substitution otherwise becomes desirable. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a construction which shall have a high degree of strength whereby the brush head may be manipulated for applying the desired heavy pressure on the teeth at the desired angles and with the desiredv twisting action without likelihood of the brush head being loosened in its socket.

To this end, it is one of the objects of my line 2-2 of Fig; 1;

invention to provide a composite handle structure comprising a base portion of metal by which the required strength ma .bezsup plied, together with a covering an protecting portion of pyro-xyline or the like by which the metal base portion is insulated and is protected from contact with the teeth in use. As will be readily appreciated, the use of a toothbrush having a handle of uninsulated metal is highly objectionable; Such a brush is likely to injure the teeth or to dislodge fillings from the teeth when employed in an approved manner by which a fair amount of pressure is applied through the handler In any event, such a construction would be uncomfortably hot or uncomfortably cold in many cases where no protection was afforded with respect to such conditions. In the use of many types of metal'for such handles, it would be practically necessary that the metal be protected against rusting, and it would be practically necessary in all cases that the metal be polished or otherwise carefully treated to insure that there were no rough edges which could injure the gums or other tissues.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an arrangement of parts comprising a metal handle and means readily applicable to said handle for providing the desired in sulation against heat and cold, for providing the required protection against rusting and against injury through roughness of the meta1, and for providing the highly desirable cushioning effect for protecting the teeth against injury mechanically."

7 It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred meansbywhich I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawing and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover claims.v

In the drawing,

1 Fig. 1 is a front face view of the handle member of-my improved brush, broken away at one end;

Fig.2 is a vertical cross section taken a F ig. 3 is a side view of my improved brush upon a'smaller scale, also broken away at eertain'points for clearness of illustration Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar, to Fig. 1 but; showing modified forms of construction; Fig. 6 is a side view of the preferred form of brush head, partially broken away for clearnessof illustration.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, 10 indicates a handle having "a loop 11 formed on one end thereof, said loop comprising a band portion 12 andaninwardly extending flange por tlon 13. As is clearlyshow-nin Fig. 2, the flange portion 13-..and the band portion 12 are formed integrally with each other, in the arrangement shown being formed of metal.

The handle portion 10, as is indicated'in Fig.

1 comprises "a metal shank 14., which in the construction shown is formed integrally with t'heimetal portions 12 and 13 of the loop. The ,whole' metal structure, comprising the shank 14,-theband 12 and the flange 13, is-covered with a layer l5lof pyroxyline which in the construction shown is'firmly bonded to the mental so as to be immovable with respect thereto. As is. clearly shown'in Fig. 3, a brushzhead 16 "of any-approved t pe issecured within the loopfll soas to e tightly by Letters Patent is set forth in the gripped thereby but so as to be removable therefrom by a moderate pressure upon the back face of the brush head through the loop 11.

By the use of my improved construction as above described, I have provided the required strength in the handle and loop, while at the same time providing the highly desired protection by the use of the insulating covering about the metal. While I'have described the protecting layer 15 as being formed of pyroxyline and prefer to employ this form of ma terial, it is to be understood that any other suitable form of comparatively soft'insulat ing material may be used of such character as to becapable of application to the metal parts in firmly bonded relation thereto so as to be immovable with respect to the metal when applied thereabout in the form of a thin layer. I do not accordingly desire to limit the invention to theuse of any particular form of cellulosi'c compound or other protecting material, except so far as the claims may be'so limited indetail. The shank 14 and the loop parts 12 and 13 are to be formed by any suit able process available. In the form of device as shown in Fig.4, an arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 1 is employed, except that a slot 17 isprovided extending longitudinally of the handle and opening into-the loop. In view of the similarity of the partsas shown in Fig; 4 to the construction first described, the same reference characters have been applied. It

willbe appreciated, of course, that in connection with the handleshown in Fig. 4:, a

slightly different form of brush'head would be required. q I

In the form of device as shown in Fig. 5, a metal handle 18 is employed provided at its end with a loop 19 provided with a slot 20 'thereacross at the outer end of the loop. In

the construction shown, the loop 19 comprises a band portion 21 of metal having an inwardly extending flange 22 formed therewith, the metal portion of the loop being covered and entirely surrounded by a layer 23 of pyroxyline'or other suitable'material, such so "layer 23 of pyroxyline being continued also about the shank or handle portion 18. By

reason of the use of metal forming the prin- U cipal portion ofthehandleand loop, a sufficlently high degree of strength is provided for holding the brush head firmly. in posicovered with a thin tough layer 26 of pyroxylme or other suitable material.

By the use of my improved construction as above described, I have met all of the requirements with respect to a commercial form of 'brushis capable of meeting all requirements of its users With respect to comfort and convenience. The strength of the device is such that the brush head is held firmly in posi tion, while being at the same time capable of beingremoved for substitution of a new brush head whenever desired.

lVhile I prefer to employ the forms of construction as shown in. mydrawing and as above described, it will be understood that my invention is not limited to such form except so. far as the claims may be so limited by the prior art. 4

I claim i 1. A toothbrush comprising a handle formed of metal, a loop on one end of said handle, a layer of comparatively much softer protecting material firmly bondedto the metal of said loop about the surface thereof, and a brush head removab-ly held in tight gripping relationship in said layer-covered loop.

2. A toothbrush comprising a handle formed of metal, a loop on one end of said handle, a layer of insulating material firmly bonded to the surface of the metal of said loop, and a brush head removably held in tight; gripping relationship in said layercovered loop. 3..-A toothbrush comprising a handle formed ofmetal, a loop on one end of said handle, a'layer of organic material firmly bonded'to the surface of the metal of said. loop, and a brush head removably held in tight gripping relationship in said layercovered loop.

' 4. A toothbrush. comprising a handle formed of metal, a loop on one end of said I handle, a thin tough layerof pyroxyline formed about said loop and handle in immovable relation thereto, and a brush head removably held in tight gripping relationship in said layer-covered loop.

, EDWIN M. MoNALLY.

tion even with the slot'20 provided, the use 3 ofthe slot 20 providing the necessary resiliency for insuring that, the brush head shallbe held firmly in'position regardless of slight irregularities in its size.

In thefform of brush head as shown in Fig. 6, 'Ihave employed a base member 24 preferably of metal having the tufts of "bristles 25 secured therein by any suitable method,'the 'metal base member 24 being 

